Research Paper On Bumblebees

Bumblebees and Blueberries Many plants require insects for pollination, and therefore reproduction. Blueberries are one such species of plant. They are also one of the main products of Maine. In 2007 alone, Maine gained around 250 million dollars from their blueberry industry (University of Maine 2007). One of the key pollinators of Maine blueberries are the native bumblebees. There are 17 known native bumblebee species in Maine, but there seems to be a problem. It is well known that there has been a major problem with honeybee colonies dying without explanation, but bumblebees also have been seen to be decreasing. There is a census going on now, taking account for the numbers and species of bumblebees in an attempt to determine how severe the decline is, and possibly eventually find the cause (Bumblebees 2015). The bumblebee is the common name for many species in the genus Bombus, in the family Apidae, and the order Hymenoptera. There are more than 250 known species of bumblebee and they inhabit a large geographical range including North and South America, Europe, and much of Asia. They are primitive eusocial insects that have cooperative care for their young. The infertile workers …show more content…
According to data from University of Maine and the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, the number of rainy days does not seem to correlate at all with the number of pounds produced in the given year. Furthermore, according to both the University of Maine and Clemson University, bumblebees “can forage in cool, unfavorable weather better than other bees” (Clemson 2015). This would suggest that increase in rain should have little effect on the pollination of plants by bumblebees. It might suggest that the bumblebees are being effected by something else, perhaps predation, toxins, or